ITU Long Distance World Championships
The ITU Long Distance World Championships in Oklahoma threw up some tough conditions for competitors but victories went to the strongest swim, bike, runners’ in 2016. The Frenchmen dominated, Sylvain Sudrie claimed gold, and Cyril Viennot the silver, both former title holders. Sudrie set himself up for the win after a brilliant swim and lead he maintained until the finish despite Viennot owning the fastest run split. 
 
Craig Alexander was the best of the Australian’s in sixth place, with Brisbane’s Sam Betten in eighth and Sydney’s Paul Ambrose 11th. Lachlan Kerin was a DNF on the run.
 
There were no Australian women in the field, Great Britain’s Jodie Swallow claimed her second long distance world championship seven years after her first from Swizterland’s Caroline Steffen – another former title holder. Canadian Rachel McBride was third.

Elite Men

View Full Results >>

Elite Women

View Full Results >>

Ironman 70.3 Korea
Kirralee Seidel dominated at her first edition of Ironman 70.3 Korea with an eighth fastest time overall. Seidel put together a 27.01 swim, 2:25:52 bike and 1:22:59 run for a convincing 27-minute margin in the women’s category from fellow Aussies Sarah Lester and Michelle Duffield.
 
Results
1.          Kirralee Seidel                   4:18:49
2.          Sarah Lester                        4:46:13
3.          Michelle Duffield              4:54:09
 
Challenge Jeju
It was an Australian one-two at the inaugural Challenge Jeju, David Mainwaring wrote his name into the history books nailing the win from Victorian Luke Bell. 
 
Jeju Island lies southwest of the Korean Peninsula and is the largest tourist destination in Korea. Jeju Island was also designated as a World Natural Heritage. It is also the choice of renowned coach Brett Sutton’s squad at this time of year in the lead up to Kona. Sutton’s charges Australian Sarah Crowley constructed a good race to finish second and Mary Beth Ellis third (USA) behind Kiwi Amelia Watkins taking the win. 

2016 Murakami NTT ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup
Our Aussie young guns continue to gain experience racing internationally and this weekend that work continued.

We had four juniors placed in the top twelve – the best was Charlie Quin in fifth, James Thorp seventh, Daniel Coleman ninth and Brandon Copeland 12th.

Grace Hoitink finished tenth in the women’s race.

Full Results 

Salinas ITU Triathlon World Cup
Emma Jackson finished fifth behind the in form American pair of Kirsten Kasper and Summer Cook at the Salinas ITU Triathlon World Cup over the sprint distance race. Jackson just fell short on the run after being in the lead group finishing 42 seconds behind winner Kasper, South Africa’s Gillian Sanders finished third.
 
The pace was too hot for Drew Box finishing 15th in the men’s race, David Castro Fajardo (ESP) won a three-way sprint finish from Matthew McElroy (USA) and Crisanto Grajales (MEX). 

Full Results

Play of the Week goes to Clint Kimmins in his first pro race at Ironman Chattanooga – finished top ten. His strategy to go with eventual winner Marino Vanhoenacker on the bike in the first hour nearly destroyed him but recoved to finish 10th.  
 
“That’s what you get for trying to bridge across to Marino Vanhoenacker in the first hour of the ride. Dead set idtiot! Salvaged a day where I though it was going to be lights out under a tree somewhere. Happy with 10th in my first pro outing. Lots t o learn racing with these units.”

Results
 
1           Marino Vanhoenacker       8:12:22 
2           Jeff Symonds                    8:19:27
3           Matt Russell                      8:24:53
4           Matt Hanson                     8:25:36
5           Justin Daerr                      8:29:47
6           Esben Hovgaard              8:44:55
7           Jozsef Major                     8:45:44
8           Eric Limkemann               8:49:30
9           Chad Holderbaum            8:54:24
10         Clint Kimmins                   9:01:36